Denise Richards: ‘If there’s a lost dog in the neighbourhood, they will always find me’

The Starship Troopers and Wild Things star answers your questions on her canine charity work, being a Real Housewife and the embarrassment of shooting sex scenes

Denise Richards: ‘If there’s a lost dog in the neighbourhood, they will always find me’

Do you reflect on the characters you’ve played once filming has finished? Did Carmen from Starship Troopers live to regret dumping the film’s hero, Johnny Rico, or did she live her happily ever after? RoteHahn

I usually think more about what happened off camera and where I was in life at that time. Starship Troopers was pretty much our first movie, we were all unknowns, so it was a wonderful bonding moment. Some of the characters I’ve played have died, so I know what happened to them. But I don’t think Carmen regrets breaking up with Johnny. She probably misses him but it was important for her to grow into a woman.

How we made Starship TroopersRead more

I’m interested to what degree the cast of Starship Troopers realised they were in a satire about US militarism? I get the impression that Neil Patrick Harris is in on the joke but Casper Van Dien [who plays Johnny Rico] thinks he’s in an out-and-out blockbuster. Hoppo

Do you know what, I don’t think that we did!

Do you have any fond or abiding memories of making the amazing 1994 sci-fi comedy Tammy and the T-Rex? CFCForever 

I remember there were these horrible fires during filming. I was on top of the dinosaur and supposed to evacuate, but they carried on filming, which was probably not the smartest thing to do.

Sitting on top of a dinosaur in Tammy and the T-Rex (1994). — ‘There were these horrible fires during filming’ … In Tammy and the T-Rex (1994). Photograph: United Archives GmbH/Alamy

Did becoming a Bond girl in The World Is Not Enough live up to the hype? JamesPage

It was an incredible experience. Even when I was promoting the movie, I got to travel to all these different countries for the premieres. I really didn’t understand how big Bond was until I was doing it. Do I have Bond girl at the top of my résumé? Well, it’s one of them! Why was my character called Christmas? I don’t know. It’s a funny name … Are there any other characters called Christmas? Jim Carrey’s character is called Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber. So if we got married I’d be Christmas Christmas.

With Pierce Brosnan in The World Is Not Enough (1999). — Christmas time … with Pierce Brosnan in The World Is Not Enough (1999). Photograph: United Artists/Allstar

You’ve been brilliant in a great many things, but do you feel being a sex symbol has advanced or limited your opportunities as an actor? redflag 

There were a lot of times where I wouldn’t be considered for girl-next-door roles. Once you hit certain ages, you think you’re done, so I’m very lucky to still be working so much.

The 90s saw many of your fellow [young] stars appearing in rock videos – Angelina Jolie in the Rolling Stones’ Anybody Seen My Baby?, Alyssa Milano in Blink-182’s Josie and Alicia Silverstone in three videos for Aerosmith. Were you offered any such roles? McScootikins

I did one music video years ago when I first started out. Which one? I knew you were going to ask me, but I cannot remember. It was a country song … Hang on … Yes, that’s it! Canadian Rose by Blues Traveler. And I was in a Snoop Dogg video, Undercova Funk. Snoop really is one of the nicest people I’ve met in this business.

Richards with Neve Campbell in Wild Things. Photograph: Cinetext/Columbia/Allstar

What are your memories of filming that pool scene in Wild Things? Are sex scenes actually at all sexy to film? I’ve heard stories of actors eating cheese and onion crisps before kissing scenes to put each other off. Is it just a bit of a laugh on set? TopTramp

It was terrifying. It was the first time I had filmed anything like that, so I was obviously extremely nervous. There are a couple of scenes that are very risque. There’s a lot of choreography of figuring out who’s going where, so it’s not as sexy as people think. Do I eat smelly food before kissing scenes? No. And I have been very fortunate that no actor I’ve worked with has done that. If anything, we go the complete opposite. We always make sure we have mints and our teeth are brushed after lunch. We are definitely very respectful.

Can you still look Neve Campbell in the eye? TopTramp

Of course, yes! I’m sure people must think that behind the scenes it’s very exciting, but it’s not. But I’m glad it comes off that sexy in the movie.

Richards with her castmates from Wild Things (1998), Kevin Bacon, Neve Campbell and Matt Dillon. — ‘It was terrifying’ … Richards (second from left) with Kevin Bacon, Neve Campbell and Matt Dillon in Wild Things, 1998. Photograph: Columbia/Allstar

Would you star in Hot Shots! Part Trois with your ex-husband Charlie Sheen, on the back of the new Top Gun? TopTramp

I don’t think I would be asked. I think Charlie would probably go a different way. Although I have to say, I did enjoy working with him. We met on a movie called Good Advice, then we worked together on Spin City, and I did two episodes of Two and a Half Men. Then I did a couple of episodes of Anger Management, so we have worked together since our porce.
Thank you for all the charity work you do for our canine companions. Are there any lighthearted tails of doggie-related mischief you could share? TheDuckOffRosieNJim 

I’ve always been a huge dog lover. If there’s a lost dog in the neighbourhood, they will always find me. Everyone says that I’m like Dr Dolittle and Evan Almighty, where the animals will flock to you.

Richards with fellow Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, in season 10(2020). — ‘This show is the one that I had more people come up to me about than any other’ … Richards (second from right) with fellow Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, in season 10 (2020). Photograph: Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

If you could rewrite and redirect any film, what would it be? Not_Always_A_Moron 

I would love to do Drop Dead Gorgeous and either have my character be her sister or not really die on the float, and it would be all of our daughters competing. Would I reshoot Wild Things? I think we’re a little old for that now.

Why does everyone in Starship Troopers smile so much? SamCrut

I don’t know. I’ve never thought of that!

Did appearing on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills affect your career and wellbeing in a positive or negative way? Babydame

What’s funny is that I’ve done a lot of different projects in my career, and this show is the one that I had more people come up to me about than any other. My husband [fellow Real Housewives of Beverly Hills castmate Aaron Phypers] says: “I cannot believe how many people watch this show about fighting ladies.” I don’t think it was a bad career move at all. I have a feeling the wives in the UK don’t fight as much as the ones in Beverly Hills, but I could be wrong!